Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-11-04

and if his mother was forgiven, then, at last,
he might accept the Joy that such forgive
moss brought.
The two men went out together and Ray
mond heard all there was to tell, and he
went to Meridon farm to pay the last sod
rites to his crring mothers ashes.
Roger loved his child, and ne was willing
that She should become Iaymoud's wife; but
that did not prevent him from feeling his
loss, and as he walked his thoughts went. ms,
indeed, they always had, back to the days
when his beloved wife was with him, beforo
this cruel tragedy had taken place. He had
| loved Henrctte truly and profoundly, and
| her memory was always bright and tendery
| kept in iis heart of hearts.
| That day was Saturday, and it was for this
! night that the appointment with Luveisan
was made at Larouette's cottage in Vile
! dAvray, which Roger had rented some days
/ before. Everything had remained just as it
| was the day of tho murder. Nothing was
changed, and Roger was obliged to be there
punctual to his appointment, to make an
effort to discover the real assassin in order to
| clear his own name.
Suzanne, the doctor said, was now out Of
danger, and Roger left her in his charge and
that of the nurse for the night, and She
seemed to be so well that he had no fear.
Roger had written Trstot and Pivolot to
come there as early as 6 o'clock, and they,
acting on his orders, induced NJ Lacroix and
NJ. De Lignerolles to accompany them. The
latter, though not knowing what they were
wanted for, were both on hand at the
hour appointed, and were taken at onco
to room adjoining the one where
Roger intended TO receive Luversan and
where Larouette had been killed. Tristot
took the lead, and somehow managed to make
those two men, usually so positive and opin-
donated, accept their demand that they should
wait there, and promised they should see
something worth all their pains They were
! duly introduced to Mr. William Forney, and
found him. pleasant gentleman, though
little mysterious in wishing them to come
here i'll so peculiar manner, but they were
sufficiently curious to await the scene pre-
pared for them.
1t was about 0 o'clock when Luversan de-
! scended from the train and took his way
along the street towards the cottage, and he
looked nervousy about him and felt reas-
sured as he saw none but strange faces.
He went slowly along the street until
he came to the cottage, and there, in spite
of all he could do, he slipped to the
/ darkest side and kept rs much as pos
sible under the shadow of those same trees
which had sheltered him before. In spite of
all he could do he was afraid.
But he knew what was at stake and he
went to the door this time, as he had not
done before, and rang the bell. Roger HIM
self opened it, saying carelessly:
Excuse me. | have no servants yet, ex-
cept Mother Dondaine, who cooks and man
ages for me for the present"
Luversan gave his hand to Roger, who
noticed that it was cold and damp, and that
he shivered, though the night was warm.
"Are you ill." said Roger.
"No. l walked rapidly; that is all"
They went up the few steps leading to the
little sitting room, and though Luversan tried
to SMILE it was moro OF a grimace that dis
figured his features, and his breathing seemed
oppressed as they entered the fatal room, and
| Luversan made a gesture Of horror as he
noticed everything as they had been fixed in
his memory for ten years,
"Colne in, come in," said Roger. st is not
very pleasant here, but it is odd, and therefore
! Dleascs me. | took it because | heard there
was ghost, but there isn't after all. Here is
the very room and there beside that secretary
the spot where the Old man they tell us Of
was murdered and tlpy found his body right
there where you stand"
Luversan stepped back quickly and looked
mechanically on the floor, saying hoarsely:
az that blood!'
"No, no" replied Roger. "Tho fools washed
that up. l wish they had left it. But you
appear uneasy. Don't you like the place"
1T is not that; it is that what you are about
to answer me is Of such mighty Importance
that | am anxious"
ooh, yes; well, that is grave very grave,
and am very sorry-yes, really sorry"--
"What, YOU refuse"
"Well, no; not exactly. don't exactly re.
fuse, but l am not quite ready TO accept,
either. / will tell you. | understand YOU
need a million. Well, yesterday | went to
Paris to get it, but my bankers who hold my
funds persuaded Inc to tell why wanted it,
and they objected so strenuously that could
not get all | wished; and though happened
to have disposable some 100000 or G00OOC
francs, have not all, and that is why am
perpleXed Of course, as soon as | could send
to New York | could let you have the whole
but that takes SO long"
Luversan began to plead and argue and
try to persuade Roger that he could easily
borrow the rest and let him have it in the
morning, but Roger said he never borrowed
and that was out of the question.
81 don't contradict YOU" he said; II might
borrow it, but l won't. have here some
where near 100000, but that is of no use tc
you, and so l will keep it." And saying this
he partly opened the old secretary, letting
: Luversan see the rolls and packages of money
and 10 cycs glittored MS he looked upon them
IF had that would leave the country, ,
, he thought, "aud go to New York, and in &
, few years / could make an enormous for
tune"
But Roger would not let him have thc
s1,000,000, nor any part of it, and finally
Iuversan, pale with rage, left the house. ant
Roger closed the door upon him and thel
he went back upstairs and opened tho win
dow where Luyorsln had entered before, .at
turned the light down Il little and then car
ried something heavy and awkward to the
. side of the secretary and placed it there thel
rejoined the four men in the next room.
; But an bour later they heard a sli ght nois,
: and saw Luyersan creeping along toward til,
y house, always under the shadow OF the trees
y